Clasp for sanitary belts.



Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

3 wue'n To;

- ALBERTT VAN ALsTYN I I5 Wm H |l. m E W M I N 7 R LAM A AH m ND H m V J m/ 0" T I r IPM A m a m P A UMBIA PLANDGRAPH c0" AsNlNa'roN D c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT T. VAN ALSTYN, OF NEW YORK, Y.

CLASP FOR SANITARY BELTS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT T. VAN ALSTYN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps for Sanitary Belts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a buckle of that type having protected prong ends,and it is particularly adapted for use where it is desired to have the parts which are buckled together remain in buckled relation until manually released, as in the case of straps or bandages such as sanitary napkins and the like which are under strain.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide a buckle, the prongs of which are automatically clasped, and in which the ends of the prongs remain in a locked and protected position until manually released.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of pockets to protect and lock the ends of the prongs, the prongs being formed resiliently and for engagement with the pockets, when pressure is exerted thereon, to compress the prongs toward each other a predetermined amount and then release the same, thereby snapping the ends into the pockets where they remain in a locked and protected position.

Still another object of my invention is the provision, in a buckle of the clasp type,

of a novel spring arrangement in a multiple prong member, the resiliency being in oppositely tensioned coiled springs located at the foot of the prongs.

Other novel features of my invention are discernible from the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing annexed hereto, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a buckle constructed according to my invention, and showing the prongs in the unclasped posi tion. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a modified form of pocket Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

Application filed April 26, 1915. Serial No. 23,883.

for receiving and protecting the ends of the prongs. Fig. 5 is a perspective view show ng the manner in which the pocket shown 1n Fig. 4 is formed. Fig. 6 is a plan view showing pockets struck out of the frame. Fig. *7 is a sectional view on the line 77 of Fig. 6. Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate another modified formof pocket and the manner of forming thesame. Fig. 10 shows the doubl pronged resilient pin bar.

Referring in detail to the drawings, which illustrate buckles embodying the principles of my invention, and with particular reference to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive and Fig. 10,

the frame 1 of the buckle clasp is preferably formed of sheet material and comprises a stirrup portion 2 which provides means for attaching a looped strap, and a throat por tion 3, said last-named portion being separated from the stirrup portion by a transverse bar 4, rolled at 5 to provide a hinge mounting for the pronged member 6 illustrated in Fig. 10. The pronged-member 6 comprises a pintle portion 7 having at each end thereof oppositely coiled springs 8, and from these springs extend the parallel prongs 9 which are substantially at right angles to the pintle portion 7. The springs 8 are so tensioned that the prongs resist pressure tending to force them toward each other. In mounting the pronged member 6 upon the frame of the buckle, the pintle portion 7 is disposed loosely within the roll 5, thereby forming a hinge. The prongs 9 are preferably shaped to pin points at 10 so as to easily penetrate the material to which the buckle is applied.

Opposite the transverse bar 1, and in proper position to receive the pin points 10, are formed pockets 11 for the reception of the pin points. These pockets are formed as shown in Fig. 3 by bending portions. of the material forming the frame upwardly and inwardly to form opposite pockets havingadjacent inclined faces as at 12, this feature being shown best in Fig. 3. i

As stated, he pockets 11 are formed opposite each other and the adjacent faces 12 are inclined for engagement by the prongs 9. In clasping the prongs, they are pressed downwardly toward the frame member, thus causing them to engage the inclined faces 12 of the pockets which press the prongs 9 toward each other thereby compressing the-springs 8 until thepin points r 10 pass the lower edges 13 of the inclined faces 12. As soon as they pass the edges 13 the springs 8 snap the prongs 9 into their normal position and the pinpoints 10 pass underneath the lower edges 13 of the inclined faces 12 and into the pockets 11 where they remain in the locked and protectedl 1 a looped strap 14 is passed through the.

s irrup 2 and fastened. The free strap 15 is then passed underneath the throat 3 and upwardly therethrough. Theprongs 9 are then pushed through the material of the strap 15 and the strap 15 is pulled in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, this draws the prongs 9 down against the inclined faces12 and forces the pin. points 10 toward each other by reason of their engagement with the said inclined faces 12, and as soonas they pass under the edges 13 of the faces 12 they snap into the locked and protected position as hereinbefore described.

To release the points it is only necessary. to press the two prongs toward each other.

which serves to dislodge the points 10 from the pockets 11 and the prongs may then be raised 'to release the material. noticed that due to the formation of the pockets with inclined adjacent faces, any strain in the direction of the arrow tending to pull the strap from the buckle will only serve to automatically lock the prongs.-

There are other forms of pockets which will cause the sameaction and some of these forms I have illustrated in Figs. & to 9 in: elusive.

Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 5 in which I have illustrated a closed form of pocket. This pocket is blanked outof the material forming the frame in 1 the manner shown in Fig. 5, that is, by forming the L1 shaped tab 16, the longer leg ofwhich is turned up at right angles to the member 3 as shown in Fig, 5. The upper portion of this is then turned over at right angles to itself on the lihe17 and the shorter leg 18 of the L-shaped tab is then turned downwardly on the line 19 thus closing the pocket on the outside. The inner corner 20is then bent downward toward the member 3 to form an incline for engagement with the pronged member as set forth in the description in connection with Figs 1 to 3 inclusive.

In Figs. (iand 7 I have shownthe pockets or guards struck up from the material forming the frame, the adjacent faces being in-:- clined in the same manner as are those in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

In the pocket'shown in Figs. 8-and 9-, a

It is to be fin 21 is formed when the frame member 1 is blanked out. This fin is bent upwardly and over as shown in Fig. 9, and the-edge; 22 thereof is incllned for engagement with the pronged member :6;

lVhile-I have herein shown and described specific forms of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the forms shown and described except in so far as the scope of my claims import.

It is also to be understood that while I have herein: shown a pronged member having pin points, I do not limit myselfto' prongs having. pointsbut, as for instance where a strap is used which is provided with eyelet holes, I may use a pronged member having blunt ends.

I claim:

1. In abuckle including a frame comprising stirrup and throat portions, a bar separating said portions, .a multiple pronged 1 spring member pivotally mounted on said. bar, pockets on said frame opposite said bar for the reception of the-ends of said prongs, said pockets having adjacent sides oppositely inclined for engagement with said prongs to compress the latter upon pressure being exerted thereon and allow the same to finally spring into. a protected and locked.

position. in said pockets.

2. In a buckle including a frame compriss ing stirrup and throat portions, a bar'sepa: rating said portions, a double pronged mem ber pivoted to said bar and each prongprovided with a coil spring said springs; being oppositely tensioned with. respect to each other, pockets on said frame opposite said bar for the reception of the ends offsaid prongs, said pockets. having the adjacent sides oppositely inclined 1' for engagementwith said prongs: to-compress said springs upon pressure being exerted on saidprongs and. allow the latter to finally springinto a protected andi locked position in said pockets.

3. Ina buckle includinga frame, a multiple pronged springmember mounted in said frame, and point pockets having inclined upper sides for engagement with said-prongs to compress the latter and cause the same to finally spring into a protected and locked position in said pockets.

in In a buckle including a frame, a ,multi-t ple pronged spring member mounted in said frame and for penetrating the body to. be

5. The combination in a buckleincludingw a resilient multiple pronged member, of

pockets to receive and retain the pointed In testimony whereof, I have signed this ends of the prongs of said member, said specification in the presence of two subscribpockets being provided with inclined sides ing Witnesses.

for engagement with said pointed ends to ALBERT T. VAN ALSTYN. compress said prongs and cause the ends Witnesses:

thereof to finally spring into a protected STANLEY J. LATHROP,

and locked position. ALBERT E. KELLY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

